Author: Sofia
Introducing Best in Class: Putters Choosing a putter has always been part science, part gut feel, and part guesswork. Golfers rely on brand reputation, a quick roll on an indoor putting mat, a golf course putting green, or advice from a friend who swears by their latest model. We wanted to replace that guesswork with something more rigorous – so we built a testing process designed to find out, category by category, which putters genuinely perform best. Data led rankings Welcome to Best in Class, a new review series where we put equipment through structured, data-led testing to find the…
England Golf say golf clubs are facing a “moral responsibility to manage water with care” as the nation struggles with a prolonged drought. The governing body believe water is becoming “one of the defining sustainability issues for golf in England” as it reminded clubs of the rules that needed to be followed and how the sport would respond. More than 70% of England is experiencing drought conditions and many clubs are operating under Temporary Use Bans which restrict how mains water can be used on the course. An England Golf statement said: “With prolonged dry spells, rising temperatures, and increasing…
A bit of a late bloomer to the game of golf, Max fell in love with the sport when he attended Saturday coaching sessions down at his local golf club after being inspired by friends and family members. Max has remained a member of Eden Golf Club in Carlisle for a number of years now as he looks to get his handicap down into single figures. Most of his golfing career has been spent battling a permanent slice off the tee, which has led to some ugly rounds. Having studied at the University of Sunderland, Max is starting out his dream career…
Is there a big difference between the competition and general play scores of golfers around the world?How often are players recording exceptional rounds? A World Handicap System Data Report, produced by The R&A and USGA, provides a fascinating look at the way millions of golfers interacted with the game last year. It was put together after submissions of scoring data from 57 national associations captured 150 million rounds played by over 6.5 million golfers. So what did the numbers say? Are handicaps changing? Are they being held down by caps and how many times did the Playing Conditions Calculation come…
A journalist for more than 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A’s prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar. Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men’s Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls. A part of NCG’s Top 100s panel, Steve has a…
A bit of a late bloomer to the game of golf, Max fell in love with the sport when he attended Saturday coaching sessions down at his local golf club after being inspired by friends and family members. Max has remained a member of Eden Golf Club in Carlisle for a number of years now as he looks to get his handicap down into single figures. Most of his golfing career has been spent battling a permanent slice off the tee, which has led to some ugly rounds. Having studied at the University of Sunderland, Max is starting out his dream career…
Your greenkeepers spend hours and hours every week raking bunkers but it’s not just in people power where the costs can add up. Maintenance and renovation, the price of sand, and even haulage rates for getting those precious grains to your course, can have a big impact on budgets. But how much does a bunker really cost? A 2024 report, the Great British Bunker Study, gave an insight into some of the big figures, while looking at what specialist companies are charging can also help tot up the numbers. With the average lifespan of stacked turf in a revetted bunker…
How different is a golf lesson now to 10, 20, or even 30 years ago? Has technology changed the way we consume information? Has it altered the way professionals teach the game? It’s not uncommon to be bombarded with launch monitor data and video footage when you go for a golf lesson today. Golfers have also got access to vast amounts of coaching content online, whether it’s tailored to their game or not. Nick Williams has been at St Enodoc for over 30 years, is the long-serving Head Professional, and has seen how the coaching landscape has changed throughout his…
Terre Blanche hasalmost everythingyou could want when looking to visit a luxury European golf resort. Located in the heart of Provence in the south of France, the resort is home to two championship golf courses, one of the most impressive practice facilities in Europe, a five-star hotel and an extensive spa and wellness centre. The resort’s two golf courses, Le Château and Le Riou, offer two noticeably different tests. Le Château is the longer and more challenging of the two, stretching beyond 7,200 yards from the back tees. Le Riou is a shorter and tighter course that rewards accuracy and…
A journalist for more than 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A’s prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar. Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men’s Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls. A part of NCG’s Top 100s panel, Steve has a…
